I grew up in NJ, so NYC was just a short train or bus ride away. When I was in high school, our band director used to take us every year to Carnegie Hall to hear Handel's Messiah performed by the Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra. Still gives me goosebumps just to think about it. NYC is at its best in the Christmas season, the lights, the big tree in Rockefeller center, the store windows.... :Hooch sighs nostalgically: it sure was fun! Anybody else listen to the Messiah as part of their Christmas season?

I grew up in a big church that performed Handel's Messiah every year on the Saturday preceeding Christmas.The choir was a community choir whose singers consisted of various church choirs in the area.Organ, orchestra and about 100 - 120 singers.

IMHO: Handal's MEssiah is simply one of the most inspired compositions of all time.